Jaipur: The numbers for human trafficking cases released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) put Rajasthan at an embarrassing number two position with 1,422 cases registered in 2016. According to NCRB data, the states share stood at 17.49% of the total 8,057 cases registered across the country. The list is topped by West Bengal with 3,579 cases. Rajasthan is followed by Gujarat with 548 cases in 2016. However, the police can take heart in the fact that Rajasthan also tops in the list of victims that were rescued in 2016. The NCRB notes that more minor boys were trafficked than girls. But, on the other hand, among adults, more girls were trafficked compared to boys.

The state rescued 5,626 minors in 2016. Out of this, 5,281 were minor boys and 345 minor girls. Among 141 adults who were rescued in the same year, 133 were girls, while eight were boys.Hence the total victims rescued were 5767, highest in the country.

However, the state cuts a sorry figure as it boasts of a specialized anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU), established with the aim to trace and rescue children, who run away from home, elope, or are suspected to be held captive.

Officials informed TOI that the Rajasthan police had launched operation Milap this year to reunite missing children with their parents. The operation was a major success. The increase in incidents means that we have been able to register more cases and are working actively, said an official.

The NCRB figures indicate that unlike other states such as West Bengal, where human trafficking was mainly due to sexual exploitation for prostitution, in Rajasthan, the primary reason behind trafficking was forced labour.

From information based on statements from rescued victims and the accused, NCRB notes that as many as 5,099 victims were trafficked from the state for the purpose of bonded labour while 30 were trafficked for the purpose for prostitution. But 118 victims were trafficked for other forms of sexual exploitation. Among the victims who were rescued by the state police, officials found that 24 of them were trafficked for the purpose of child pornography.

Vijay Goel, a child rights activist informed TOI that there needs to be a strong rehabilitation programme in the state. There are villages in southern Rajasthan where children are trafficked to Gujarat to work in cotton fields. Here in Jaipur too, there is a thriving small scale industry where children are employed in hazardous tasks such as bangle and jewel polishing, he said.